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January 05, 2011

A recent report from Robert Half Technology found that 14 percent of companies in the West South Central region are planning to hire IT workers during Q1 2011. That's an 11 percent increase when compared to Q1 2010, when only 3 percent of companies were planning to hire.

What's even more promising is that only 3 percent of IT companies are planning to make layoffs during Q1, meaning the majority companies will maintain their staff levels in the region, which includes Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.

"Companies want to stay in front in terms of corporate competitiveness," Soowan Scheuermann, marketing manager for Robert Half Technology, said. "So they're upgrading software, hardware, and they're looking for people who can help secure the company's network. There's going to be a sustained demand for network administrators, help-desk desktop support and emerging technologies for virtualization."

The hiring outlook for the West South Central region is more promising than that throughout the nation as a whole, where 11 percent of tech companies are planning to add jobs and 3 percent are planning to make layoffs.

In the San Antonio area - where technology makes up about 2 percent of total employment - several IT companies have already announced their plans to hire more workers this year. According to the San Antonio Express-News:

Genesis Networks is planning to hire about 150 employees as it embarks on a new long-term project.

VMC Consulting Inc. will hire about 600 employees as it opens a new office at Brooks City-Base.

Rackspace, which already employs 2,077 workers in San Antonio and hired more than 800 employees last year, will add more workers during 2011.

Although a total of nearly 140,000 jobs were lost throughout Colorado during 2009 and 2010, Wobbekind predicts that only about 10,100 jobs will be created during 2011, according to an article by the Denver Business Journal.

"I think the overall economic picture for Colorado in 2011 is slow, steady growth much like the national economy," he said. "We would all like a more rapid recovery, especially in terms of jobs, but we're just not going to see that yet."

The professional and business services industry will benefit the most next year, adding about 7,000 jobs. There will be a strong need for engineners, computer systems designers, and scientific research and development employees.

Other industries that will benefit during 2011 include agriculture; education and health services; energy development; scientific and research activities; trade, transportation, and utilities; and leisure and hospitality.

"All the job growth in these sectors is still subpar in a historical context," Wobbekind said. "It will not be enough to bring down the unemployment rate in any meaningful way or create great momentum in the state economy, but at least it's moving in the right direction. It is just moving at a slower pace than we would like."

Unfortunately, some of the industries hit hardest by the economic recession - such as construction, manufacturing, and government - will continue to lose jobs next year.

December 03, 2010

Thousands of Los Angeles education jobs (Click here) are on the chopping block.

Last month, the Los Angeles Unified School District announced it's plans to fire about 4,800 employees. Of those workers, about 1,000 will completely lose their jobs, while the remainder may have the option to take a new position in a different location with lower pay.

The majority of the layoffs will affect employees in clerical, plant management, and facilities division positions. In the latter office alone, 482 employees received notices that their jobs would be cut or transfered, which resulted in 100 people leaving the district and all employees receiving a pay cut.

The school district has been forced to make several rounds of layoffs because of a decrease in state funding and an unbalanced budget. As of late, many employees - led by a Teamsters local union and United Teachers Los Angeles - have been protesting the layoffs.

The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale area's education and health services industry employed 528,100 workers during October, which is up from 517,800 workers during September and a 1.3 percent increase from last year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The recent layoffs are bad news for the local economy, which despite adding jobs in recent months, maintains a high unemployment rate. The area's rate increased from 12.4 percent to 12.5 percent during October, which is above the national average at the time of 9.6 percent.

The Los Angeles area had a total non-farm employment of 3,766,900 workers during October, which is up from 3,737,000 workers during September and only a .8 percent decrease from last year, according to the BLS.

November 30, 2010

A major technology grant to be split among several cities could end up creating more Houston tech jobs (Click here).

IBM recently announced that it will invest $50 million worth of technology and services in 100 municipalities as part of the company's Smarter Cities Challenge. Although IBM is funding the project, each city will be able to hire its own employees to manage various projects.

After those workers are hired, IBM will send experts to each city to get involved with local issues regarding the administration of healthcare, education, safety, social services, transportation, communications, sustainability, budget management, energy, and utilities.

Although any city can apply for funding, those with populations between 100,000 and 700,000 will benefit the most, according to an article by the Houston Business Journal. Pilot grants have already been awarded to Austin, Baltimore, and Mecklenburg County, N.C.

Cities that want to apply for funding should be able to pinpoint two to four strategic issues that could be reasonably acted upon; a record of innovative problem solving; a commitment to the use of technology and open data; and a willingness to provide access and time with city leaders and the public.

This is good news for the Houston area's economy, which has continued improving over the last few months. The city had an unemployment rate of 8.2 percent during September, which was lower than the national average at the time of 9.6 percent.

The Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown area had a total non-farm employment of 2,525,800 workers during October, which is up from 2,516,300 workers during September and a .2 percent increase from last year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

November 23, 2010

Present exist a prominent figure of sales jobs useable that post seekers can wish to find.

The sales industry offers everything from advertizement occupation and role for cashiers to modelling gigs and engineering posts. The majority of these types of roles award great compensation and might contribute laborers in the forthcoming years.

Hither's a look at the individual sales career:

Advertizement marketing workers - These employees put up for sale plus court advertisement for assorted media companies, including news papers and magazines, television and radio, web sites, phone directories, and snail dispatch and out door advertisers. Most prominent places prefer applicants to retain a school concentration, when littler businesses are more expected to take on applicants who have earned a lower level degree. There were give or take 166,800 publicizing sales people as of 2008 and that figure is accepted to increase by 7 percent by 2018. Roughly 33 percentage of employees are employed in in advertizing, public relations and similar agencies; as 32 percent labor in newsprint, periodic, script, and document publishing; and 17 percentage occupation in radio and TV broad casting. The average earnings for advertisement selling laborers was $43,480 in 2008.

Cashiers - While their normal expectations will adjust in accordance with on the corporation they operate for, these types of folks mostly sit at a money machine to approve of interactions from people and establish money. Such entry-concentration employment universally involve little or no previous work experience, and tho' particular bureaus possibly could prefer to hire applicants with a high school grade, many talents workers must to comprehend are obtained on the post. There were more or less 3.55 mill. cashiers during 2008 and that total ought increase by 4 percentage by 2018. In the region of 24 percentage of clerks are employed in grocery stores, tho' a number operate in gasoline stores, organization stores, and foodstuff stores and beverage posts. The medial wage among clerks was $8.49 per hr in 2008.

Demonstrators and production advertisers - Such employees court the people or stores to procure a few items by demonstrating how the wares operate and answering individual observations. Whilst some agencies might favour folks to get a lesser grade, the majority of the items such applicants must to recognise is gotten by some upon-the-post development. Here existed around 102,800 demonstrators and item advertisers in 2008 plus that figure is expected to arise by 7 percent by 2018. Give or take 23 pct of people run in stores patronage; altho 18 percentage function in advertising, world dealings, and related processes; and more vocation in organization and supporting departments. The middle earnings for Showing and merchandise advertizers was $11.18 per hour in 2008.

Insurance advertizing workers - These employees help folks, family members, and bureaus receive policy policies which allot the proper life, medical, and prop protection. Most bureaus favour to hire job seekers who hold a postsecondary grade in agency, financing, or economy, although candidates with a low level diploma might be chosen if they could demonstrate their ability to wholesale. Additionally, all the states call for policy sales folks to hold a authority. There were give or take 434,800 policy sales laborers as of 2008 and that numeral is expected to arise by 12 pct by 2018. Approximately 51 percentage of folks trade for indemnity folks and brokerage firms, when 22 pct are individually-employed, 21 percentage trade for insurance bureaus, and more operate for banking departments and security brokerage organizations. The middle remuneration for indemnity selling employees was $45,430 during 2008.

Modelling - Modelling individuals show off wear or a variety of accessories in an drive to give rise to people appeal in getting those objects. Tho' a number of modelling folks prefer to attend modelling instruction, several agencies won't want workers to hold any instruction aside from a high school education. There were in the region of 2,200 modelling employees in 2008 and this count is likely to gain by 16 percent by 2018. Give or take 18 percentage of modelling laborers are self-employed. Models brought in a average wage of $13.18 as of 2008.

Property estate brokerage and advertizing employees - These people employ their education of the local physical land marketplace to support their customers buy or vend a residence or investiture holding. As brokerage folks and agents are responsible for the same sort of labor, brokerage people are eligable to administer their own real acres company. Bureaus require laborers to receive a low level education and a few possibly could even call for a university stage. In excessAdditionally, all states need real estate brokerage folks and selling laborers to retain a license. At hand existed approximately 517,800 real acres brokerage agents and selling agents throughout 2008 and that amount ought uprise by 14 percent as of 2018. Roughly 59 pct of employees are solely-employed. The middle wage for natural acres folks, including commissions, was $40,150 in 2008. The medial compensation for natural acres brokerage people was $57,500 this matching yr.

November 22, 2010

What does it take to become a family counselor? Click here to learn more about family counselors.

Family counselors work with various family members, whether individually or in groups, to help them resolve a myriad of problems. A number of issues may cause family members to get help from a counselor, from unemployment or death to divorce or marital problems.

The exact amount of education required to become a family counselor depends on the state in which you want to work. However, most family counselors have at least a master's degree in counseling or psychology, as well as the proper certification.

There are typically two educational paths to follow if you want to become a family counselor:

Master's degree in family therapy - Students who want to pursue a master's degree in family therapy must first obtain a bachelor's degree in order to be accepted into a graduate program. Students can then enroll in the psychology or counseling department at the college or university of their choice.

Some popular degree programs include Master of Science in Family Therapy, Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology, and Master of Couples and Family Therapy. Most prominent programs are accredited by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

Most master's degree programs take two years to complete. Most students will have to take courses in abnormal psychology; ethical standards in counseling; sexuality, gender, and ethnicity issues; marital or couples therapy; and substance abuse. Students also typically take an internship to gain clinical experience.

Doctoral degree in family therapy - Students can either choose to stop at the master's level or can continue on to get a doctorate degree or Ph.D. in family therapy. Most students only get doctoral degrees if they're preparing for an advanced-level administrative job or an academic or research position.

The majority of doctorate programs are created to fit an individual student's area of interest, with most programs focusing on research. Most students will take classes in: research methods; group counseling; advanced theories in family therapy; child and adolescent therapy; and issues in family therapy. Most programs also require students to complete a dissertation or research project and gain some clinical practice.

Regardless of your degree level, most states require family counselors to become licensed before they can begin practicing. Although certification varies, most states require you to have a master's degree, complete a number of client contact hours, and pass a board approved or national examination. The national exam is administered by the Association for Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards.

Although many family counselors choose to open a private practice, some choose to work in hospitals, social services, community health centers, courts, prisons, universities, and research centers. Employees who earn their doctorate degree may work in research and academics as well.

Family counselors are usually paid pretty high salaries. The median salary during 2008 was $44,590 per year, with the lowest 10 percent of employees earning less than $27,810 per year, and the highest 10 percent earning more than $70,830 per year.

November 12, 2010

If you want to work for a large company with lots of growth potential and staying power, West Virginia is the place to be. Earlier this year, WorkForce West Virginia released its list of the 100 largest private employers in the state.

Walmart was once again named as the largest employer and has maintained that title since 1998. Rounding out the top five were: West Virginia United Health System, Charleston Area Medical Center, Kroger, and American Electric Power - all unchanged from their rankings last year.

Two companies that were not included in the top 10 during 2009 - Res-Care, Inc. and Mylan Pharmaceuticals - moved into the top 10 this year. Several other employers in the top 10 shifted positions between 2009 and 2010.

These employers lost a total of only 143 workers during the last year, which is way less than the 17,000 jobs lost in the private sector as a whole. The top 100 employers lost a total of 4,400 jobs between 2009 and 2010.

More than half of the businesses listed among the top 100 employers this year increased in rank, while almost one-fourth of the businesses listed decreased in rank. A total of six businesses not found on last years list were included this year.

The list ranks companies based on their number of employees and includes businesses with single and multiple locations. Rankings were based on Q1 data from the Quarterly Contributions Report, which is available to the public by Q3 each year.

November 10, 2010

An out-of-state company's contract with a local hospital company will help create many new jobs in Dallas TX (Click here).

HCA North Texas recently signed a contract with med fusion, a Lewisville-based medical laboratory testing company. That contract will allow med fusion to add several jobs in the Dallas area, although it's too early to estimate the exact number of positions or the value of the contract.

Under the contract, med fusion will provide services to more than 30 HCA hospitals, outpatient surgery centers, and other facilities throughout North Texas. In addition to patients, these services will benefit both med fusion and HCA employees.

"It's an opportunity to work together and see what med fusion can do to help HCA's patients," med fusion CEO Keith Laughman told the Dallas Business Journal. "The dollar value has not been estimated."

Since launching last year, med fusion has grown its employee count to more than 200 people at the company's Lewisville location, and plans to add another 100 to 150 employees during the next year. Many of those positions will be needed because of the HCA contract.

As part of the contract, Dallas-based HCA hospitals will have immediate access to hundreds of complex tests performed by med fusion, and will be able to deliver those results to patients much faster. Test results used to take longer because lab services were handled outside of the area.

The Washington, D.C. area added 34,400 jobs during September, which was the highest gain among any of the 100 markets. That was followed by Boston's gain of 21,600 jobs, Dallas's increase of 21,200 workers, and Phoenix's growth of 21,200 jobs.

The top 10 markets that added jobs during September include:

Washington

Boston

Dallas-Fort Worth

Phoenix

Minneapolis-St. Paul

Austin

Cleveland

San Jose

Oklahoma City

Pittsburgh

However, the majority of the top 100 markets in the nation continued to lose jobs during September, with 56 markets seeing a decline in employment. The Chicago area lost 66,000 jobs, while Detroit was down 30,400 workers, and San Francisco dropped 26,000 jobs.

Retail salespersons work in a variety of industries to help customers find what they are looking for. This may include describing the features of a product, demonstrating the uses of a product, and promoting a product's values.

No specific amount of education is required to become a retail salesperson, although some employers prefer to hire those who have a high-school diploma. Most employees will learn the majority of what they need to know through on-the-job training.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were about 4.5 million retail salespersons throughout the nation during 2008, and that number is anticipated to grow by 8 percent by 2018.

The majority of these employees work for clothing and accessories stores, department stores, building material and supplies dealers, motor vehicle and parts dealers, and general merchandise stores. About 156,500 retail salespersons are self-employed.

Employment of retail salespersons in the San Antonio area is expected to increase from 3,900 workers during 2006 to 5,050 workers by 2016, resulting in 1,150 additional jobs and an overall growth rate of 29.5 percent, according to the Texas Workforce Commission.

Employment throughout Texas should grow from 332,750 workers during 2006 to 411,350 workers by 2016, accounting for 78,600 additional jobs and an overall increase of 23.6 percent.

The top industries that employ retail salespersons in the San Antonio area include:

Department stores - 14.26 percent

Clothing stores - 12.58 percent

Other general merchandise stores - 11.47 percent

Building material and supplies dealers - 7.19 percent

Automobile dealers - 7.04 percent

Electronics and appliance stores - 3.99 percent

Office supplies, stationery, and gift stores - 3.16 percent

Sporting goods, hobby, and musical instrument stores - 3.10 percent

Shoe stores - 3.06 percent

Health and personal care stores - 2.59 percent

Grocery stores - 2.47 percent

Furniture stores - 2.37 percent

Jewelry, luggage, and leather goods stores - 2.34 percent

Other miscellaneous store retailers - 2.24 percent

Home furnishings stores - 2.23 percent

The average wage for retail salespersons in the San Antonio area was $9.25 per hour during 2009, while the average wage in Texas was $11.15 per hour, and the average wage throughout America was $11.84 per hour.